Trolley-wheel



Patented 11,1921.

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WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES MIL'IQN'RUPERT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

n. n NUTTALL TROLLEY-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed September 25, 1919. Serial No. 326,208.

shall be relatively light in weight, of rela,

tively great strength and consistof relatively few parts.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a trolley wheel of the abovetype that shall have positive means for retaining the parts in their.proper relative position during the life of the wheels.

One type of trolley wheel made heretofore comprised a one-piece deviceof relatively soft metal such as. copper. The scrapping of such a wheel,after the rim had been worn down, meant the loss of considerablevaluable material. Another type coinprised a number of pieces such as acopperrim, with pressed steel flanges, and supporting webs, requiring arelatively large num ber of individual parts for each wheel.

In practising my. invention, I provide a hub having-an integral web andgroove rim made of a relatively soft metal which is a good conductor,and two pressed -111etal flanges which extend radially beyond the rimand which have a bearing on thehub to strengthen the wheel. main objectsis to obtain the lowest weight consistent with the required mechanicalstrength, length of life andconductivity, I so arrange the parts of mydevice as to obtain the desired results to a relatively high degree.

In the single sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of thedevice embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view therethrough onthe line y-g of Fig- 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the pressed metalflange and Fig. 4 is a sectional view. therethrough on the line 0200 ofFig. 3.

A central conducting and wearing memher 1 comprises a hub 2, radial webmembers 3 and a grooved rim 4-, these three .As, one of the parts beingintegral and preferably made of some metalv having a high conductivity.The hub 2 is provided with a central longitudinal opening 5, so that itmay be suitably mounted on a supporting shaft (not shown) and associatedwith the ordinary trolley harp. The radial web members 3 alternate witha plurality of longitudinal openings 6, shown in broken lines in Fig. 1,and it will be noticed that these openings 6 are much largerperipherally than the web members 3.

T'wopressed metal side plates 7, made of some metal possessing arelatively high strength, are used, one .on each side ofthe member 1.Each side plate comprises a number of portions each having its ownparticular function and these will be described in detail. The outerperiphery S of the side plate 7 extends beyond the rim 1 and is headedover to form asmooth outer rim. The intermediate part 9 of the plate '7is shaped to contact with the side and part of the inner surface of therim at. The inner part of the plate 7 has two well defined peripheralportions; first those portions 10 adjacent to the openings 6, andsecond, those portions 11 adjacent the radial web members 3. Theportions 10 are so depressed or indented that their inner surfaces, willcontact longitudinally when the two plates aremounted onthe member 1,while the portions 11 are so depressed as to be ad jacent to, and incontact with, the sides of the web members 3. I Portions of the. innerpart of the side plates 7 are formed in the shape of a longitudinallyextendingflange member 12, having an extended bearing surface on theouter periphery of the hub 2 adjacent the openings-6 and smaller.portions 13, measured peripherally, adjacent the web members 3, havinga relatively small bearingsurface .onthehub 2. The two side plates 7,may besecured together by suitable means, here shown as a plurality ofrivets 14, inserted in openings 15 in the depressed portions 10 of theside plates 7. However, I do not wish to be restrictedto the use ofrivets, as I may also spot weld the two plates together at the indentedportions 10. As the flange portions 12 have an extended bearing surfaceon the hub 2, the composite trolley wheel will have materially greaterstrength than it would have if the whole inner periphery were formed inthe shape of the portions 13.

It will also be noticed that the depressed portions 10 act as a lockingfeature against circumferential movement of the member 1 relative to theside plates 7.

It will also be noticed that a trolley wheel constructed in accordancewith my invention may be relatively light in weight, yet possessing therequisite mechanical strength. Proper current conducting parts are alsoprovided between the rim and the hub in the shape of radially extendingweb members integral with both rim and hub, so that the side plates neednot be relied upon to carry any current. The positive fastening meansemployed to hold the side plates together will operate to hold the sideplates securely in proper relative position throughout the life of thewheel.

While I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention, changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention, and I desire that only such limitations shall be placedthereon as are imposed by the prior art or are speciflcally set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a grooved contact ringhaving integral web and hub portions, said web having a plurality ofopenings therethrough, of side plates contacting with said rim andextending beyond the same, and having indented portions projecting intosaid web openings, and means for securing the side plates together andagainst the web and rim.

2. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having aplurality of integral radially-extending web members and a rim, said webmembers having openings therebetween, of two side plates contacting withsaid rim and extending beyond the same and having integrallongitudinallyextending flange portions registering with and fittinginto said web openings and bear- "ing on said hub member, and rivetsextending through said web openings and securing the two plates togetherand against the web and rim.

3. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having aplurality of in tegral radially-extending web members and a rim, saidweb members having longitudinal openings therebetween, of two sideplates contacting with said rim and extending beyond the same and havingintegral longitudinallyextending flange portions registering with' saidweb openings and bearing on said hub member, and means for securing saidside plates together in saidweb openings.

4. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having aplurality of integral radially-extending web members and a grooved rim,said web members having longitudinal openings therebetween, of two sideplates contacting with said rim and extending beyond the same, havingintegral longitudinally-extending flanges bearing on said hub member,the portions of said flanges adjacent to said web openings having arelatively large bearing surface on said hub, and means securing saidside plates together through said web openings.

5. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having aplurality of integral radially-extending web members and a rim, said webmembers having longitudinal openings therebetween, of two side platescontacting with said rim and extending beyond the same, having integrallongitudinally-extending flanges bearing on said hub member, theportions of said flanges adjacent to said web openings having a greaterbearing surface on said hub than those portions adjacent the webmembers, and having body portions depressed into said web openings, andmeans for securing said side plates together in said web openings.

6. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having aplurality of integral web members and a rim, said web members havinglongitudinal openings therebetween, of two side plates having a centralflanged opening adapted to receive said hub, and havingindented portionsregistering with said web openings, the flange portions adjacent to saidweb openings having a greater bearing surface on said hub than thoseportions adjacent the web members, and means for securing said indentedportions of the two plates together.

7 In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member, having aplurality of integral radially-extending arms and a rim, of two sideslates having a central flanged opening a apted to receive said hub, theflange portions adjacent to the spaces between sald arms having agreater bearing surface on said hub than those portions adjacent thearms, and means integral with said side plates for preventingcircumferenpliall) movement of said side plates on said In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12 day of Sept,

MILTON RUPERT.

